Just T
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Post by Just T on Oct 23, 2014 23:27:24 GMT
I am certainly not panicking about a huge Ebola outbreak, though I do admit the thought of it has crossed my mind a time or two. I think it is very strange that while Ebola is not a new illness, and it's not a new phenomenon for people to travel to and from western Africa, I do wonder why it is only now showing cases in the US. But that is not what prompted this post.
In my mind, it is common sense that if you are a doctor and have just returned from treating or working with Ebola patients in Africa, when you return home, especially if you start not feeling well, you should quarantine yourself to make sure you aren't coming down with Ebola.
Am I wrong in my thinking?
I do think there has been some ridiculous hysteria surrounding this issue, such as the teacher who was told to stay home from work simply because she had visited Dallas. But still...I would think that a doctor who just returned from Guinea, where he worked with Ebola patients, who started not feeling well, would have the sense to at least have the thought cross his mind to wonder if he might be in the early stages of Ebola and choose to stay home rather than catch a cab and go bowling.
Honestly, it boggles my mind. |
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Post by gar on Oct 23, 2014 23:32:48 GMT
Is there a new case or suspected case in the US?
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caro
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Post by caro on Oct 23, 2014 23:35:21 GMT
Yes there is a new suspected case. Is it just the "it won't happen to me mentality?" Makes me mad.
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 21:29:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 23:36:28 GMT
Is there a new case or suspected case in the US? Suspected. Honestly though look at all the people Duncan came in contact with. The only 2 that caught it were in charge of direct care of him in the later stages of the disease. This guy might have it, might not but if he went bowling he certainly doesn't have out of control vomiting or diarrhea. We will see when the testing comes back. |
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IPeaFreely
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Jun 26, 2014 8:32:27 GMT
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Post by IPeaFreely on Oct 23, 2014 23:39:06 GMT
I don't fault anyone for overreacting. There's no way to know if you have had contact with someone who has been in contact with someone with ebola. In fact, I think its better to overreact than to under react.
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Post by gar on Oct 23, 2014 23:39:55 GMT
Hopefully he'll test clear. I hadn't heard about this latest case.
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Oct 23, 2014 23:45:27 GMT
Yes, that is true. My point was...if you are a doctor, who has worked with Ebola patients in Africa, you come home and ten days later you start not feeling well, why aren't you sensible enough to stay home for a day or so to see if you are okay? He is right in the time frame that people typically come down with symptoms, so why did that thought not cross his mind? Why would he take a chance when he KNEW he wasn't feeling well, and he KNEW he had been in contact with Ebola patients? Sorry, but I don't get it.
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Post by lovetodigi on Oct 23, 2014 23:46:45 GMT
Is there a new case or suspected case in the US? Suspected. Honestly though look at all the people Duncan came in contact with. The only 2 that caught it were in charge of direct care of him in the later stages of the disease. This guy might have it, might not but if he went bowling he certainly doesn't have out of control vomiting or diarrhea. We will see when the testing comes back. You can't really go by that though. The nurse that had it, flew to Ohio and back to Dallas. She did not have out of control vomiting or diarrhea either. It does not seem to be real contagious, or the people that lived with Duncan would have been infected by him. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 23:48:51 GMT
He called as soon as he had a fever. So it wasn't like he was walking around with a fever. I guess I just don't automatically think the worst of people. He was feeling tired. That isn't excatly something that screams ebola necessarily.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 23:52:18 GMT
Yes, that is true. My point was...if you are a doctor, who has worked with Ebola patients in Africa, you come home and ten days later you start not feeling well, why aren't you sensible enough to stay home for a day or so to see if you are okay? He is right in the time frame that people typically come down with symptoms, so why did that thought not cross his mind? Why would he take a chance when he KNEW he wasn't feeling well, and he KNEW he had been in contact with Ebola patients? Sorry, but I don't get it.
I haven't heard about this news but based on what you're saying, yeah. Doctors more than anyone else should know better. Better safe than sorry when it comes to something this serious. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2014 23:52:39 GMT
Suspected. Honestly though look at all the people Duncan came in contact with. The only 2 that caught it were in charge of direct care of him in the later stages of the disease. This guy might have it, might not but if he went bowling he certainly doesn't have out of control vomiting or diarrhea. We will see when the testing comes back. You can't really go by that though. The nurse that had it, flew to Ohio and back to Dallas. She did not have out of control vomiting or diarrhea either. It does not seem to be real contagious, or the people that lived with Duncan would have been infected by him. Yes and no one else has caught it from the nurse either. Anyway here's hoping he just has the flu. It is flu season after all. |
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Oct 23, 2014 23:56:39 GMT
I think it showed very poor judgment BUT he did work in Guinea for however long he did without falling ill so it's not hard to understand why he didn't think he was at great risk for contracting ebola when it was time to come home. In other words, yeah, I think it was dumb but I'm sympathetic to him wanting to get out and start living his life again after working in such horrible conditions. Based on what we've learned about viral loads and when and how the body sheds the virus, I think this will probably turn out to be okay even if he does test positive.
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Oct 24, 2014 0:01:41 GMT
But maybe he WAS walking around with a fever. He was feeling sluggish, so maybe he had a lower grade fever and didn't realize he had one until it was high this morning. Fevers make you feel out of sorts. And again, why wouldn't Ebola be on his radar, when he had just returned from an Ebola hotspot and he all of the sudden started not feeling well?
I am not automatically thinking the worst, but he is not your average Joe Schmoe. He is a doctor, who returned her from working with Ebola patients less that two weeks ago. I would think that for most people, when they start not feeling well, that would be the first thing on your radar, not the last. I have children. When they were little and had stomach viruses, for a few days after one or more of them had been sick, if I had a little twinge of a stomachache, my first thought would always be, "oh no! I hope I'm not getting that virus!
I too hope he has the flu or something else. Although the flu doesn't usually present with stomach pain as it is a respiratory illness.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2014 0:05:57 GMT
I would think he was monitoring his temp when he started feeling tired. Anyway right or wrong it's past that point. He called as soon as he had a fever. I know some think everyone from west Africa should be quarantined. I'm just not one of them. We should know by tomorrow if he has it or not.
**ETA** he was monitoring since he got home.
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Post by lovetodigi on Oct 24, 2014 0:57:29 GMT
I just read on a FB post on WSB Atlanta that he did test positive. It should be on some of the other websites.
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Post by christine58 on Oct 24, 2014 1:00:50 GMT
He has tested positive and our governor here in NYS is giving a press conference shortly...
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Post by anniefb on Oct 24, 2014 1:06:35 GMT
I would have thought a precautionary approach was warranted for health workers who have been serving in west Africa. There have been several New Zealand nurses working with ebola patients. They didn't come straight back here but quarantined themselves in north Africa for 3 weeks to make sure they hadn't contracted it. Then they returned.
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Post by txdancermom on Oct 24, 2014 1:15:45 GMT
Just read about the NYC doctor. How could he not think that he has been exposed and could potentially get it, and limit his activities. it sounds like he has been going about his business as if he hadn't been anywhere near people with ebola.
Sorry he is sick, but I sincerely hope that everyone has learned some lessons from what happened here in Dallas in the last month.
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Oct 24, 2014 1:18:18 GMT
Yes. That was my point.
He obviously knew he was at risk if he was self-monitoring. So, I still don't understand why when he started not feeling well, he didn't just stay home for a day or so to make sure he wasn't sick.
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Post by freecharlie on Oct 24, 2014 1:23:17 GMT
I'm probably the only one focusing on how bad explosive diarrhea and bowling would suck.
I do think that those who work closely with the Ebola patients in africa should self monitor and limit their time in public for the 21 day period. I don't think that it is asking too much of them.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2014 1:23:21 GMT
Sorry to hear he has ebola. Here's hoping that since he called as soon as he had a fever no one else was or will be infected and that he recovers.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2014 1:25:08 GMT
Yes. That was my point.
He obviously knew he was at risk if he was self-monitoring. So, I still don't understand why when he started not feeling well, he didn't just stay home for a day or so to make sure he wasn't sick.
'Cuz he had STUFF to DO! Gah. That's more important than guarding humanity from a deadly virus. Sheeze. |
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Oct 24, 2014 1:33:13 GMT
Exactly. I am in awe of anyone who would willingly go to help in those areas where Ebola is running rampant. But, I also think that they should be very wary of going out in public when they return home, especially when they know they aren't feeling well. It just seems irresponsible to me to do anything less than staying away from the general public for a few days when you have been working with Ebola patients.
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Post by stacy71 on Oct 24, 2014 1:36:18 GMT
It is the phenomenon of voluntary quarantines not working. Just like nancy snyderman, she knows better etc.. For quarantines to work they have to be forced and enforced. People have the not me attitude.
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Post by stacy71 on Oct 24, 2014 1:39:18 GMT
He called as soon as he had a fever. So it wasn't like he was walking around with a fever. I guess I just don't automatically think the worst of people. He was feeling tired. That isn't excatly something that screams ebola necessarily. Disagree, you have been treating Ebola patients. One of the first symptoms is feeling tired, run down. He knows that. Should have been his first thought. And he has tested positive now. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2014 1:41:34 GMT
Maybe after working with ebola patients for a while with no ill effect, doctors begin thinking their precautions are working and they won't be in danger of contracting it. I don't know. Just speculating.
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Post by stacy71 on Oct 24, 2014 1:42:08 GMT
I would have thought a precautionary approach was warranted for health workers who have been serving in west Africa. There have been several New Zealand nurses working with ebola patients. They didn't come straight back here but quarantined themselves in north Africa for 3 weeks to make sure they hadn't contracted it. Then they returned. This is the smart responsible thing to do. Unfortunately many don't feel the need. |
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Post by samcro on Oct 24, 2014 2:04:20 GMT
Un-freaking-believable.
If Ebola wasn't even on his radar he must be the world's stupidest doctor.
You know,having recently treated EBOLA pateints.
Oh, and being a healthcare professional.
But wait, this isn't the first person putting the public at risk with this particular disease.
It's quite concerning that these people in the healthcare system are not real bright.
They of all people should know better.
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Post by Anna*Banana on Oct 24, 2014 2:13:14 GMT
Is there a new case or suspected case in the US? Suspected. Honestly though look at all the people Duncan came in contact with. The only 2 that caught it were in charge of direct care of him in the later stages of the disease. This guy might have it, might not but if he went bowling he certainly doesn't have out of control vomiting or diarrhea. We will see when the testing comes back. Huh, and yet, not only does he have it he's had a fever and diarrhea... |
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azredhead
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Post by azredhead on Oct 24, 2014 2:13:49 GMT
I agree that I would think that people in the medical field ESPECIALLY if they have been in that part of Africa that it WOULD be on their radar and take precautionary measures when they got home if they started having symptoms. Like I mentioned even when the DR's thought I had bacterial Meningitis this week, they came in the room with masks,gloves the protective needs.I had to wear a mask just to go outside my hospital room to get tests, X-rays etc. Even when they learned it was viral. The night nurse the first night came in and asked me if I was okay but to make sure I wasn't freaked out by the extra protection they were taking because they didn't know what I had. I don't know what they do outside of that but at least they were well aware that I was very contagious. Just being around someone that has something like that life threatening being a DR you would think they would know better than the guy that just flew in from Africa. I hope that he makes a full recovery and they find someone way to control this and cure it. Scary stuff.
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